Anthropometric status and cataract: the Salisbury Eye Evaluation project

Background: Weight or body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)) is frequently ident ified as a risk factor for cataract, but the nature of the association is u nclear. Objective: We aimed to characterize the relation between BMI and stature an d risk of different types of cataract. Design: We analyzed data from participants in the Salisbury Eye Evaluation (SEE), a cross-sectional survey of visual status and demographic, nutrition al, and environmental factors conducted between 1993 and 1995 in a represen tative sample of community-dwelling older persons in Salisbury, MD. Multipl e logistic regression techniques were used to compare risk factors between individuals with nuclear, cortical, or posterior subcapsular (PSC) opacitie s and individuals with no cataract. Results: Risk of nuclear opacification was greater in participants with low er BMIs [adjusted odds ratio of 1.13 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.27) with a BMI of 22. 5 compared with 28.0] and of taller stature [1.12 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.25) with a stature of 170.5 cm compared with 164], In contrast, risk of cortical op acification was greater in participants with higher BMIs and of taller stat ure, but the relation for stature diminished in magnitude and was not signi ficant after adjustment for other risk factors. BMI was not related to risk of PSC opacities, but there was some evidence that taller stature is a ris k factor for PSC opacification (P = 0.06) after adjustment for other risk f actors. Conclusions: Both BMI and stature are independent risk factors for cataract s in the SEE population, with the nature of the risk dependent on cataract type.